State makes changes to, renames food stamp program

January 28, 2013

Deciding between paying to keep a roof overhead and keeping healthy food on the table isn’t a choice people should have to make. New York state has made changes to and renamed its food stamp progra....

Comments

Carlaw

Big grocery stores need more benefits card spenders to survive in NY State. Regular taxpayers who do not qualify for food stamps have had to cut back significantly on groceries and it will get worse as prices increase. It's a win win situation for everyone but the taxpayer. How very sad. Do they really think they can change the vocabulary and remove the stigma of what is bringing our country down? Why bother? More free stuff will keep these people in power no matter what they call it.

rosiegirl

Here we go another program for us hard working tax payers to have to pay for!!!!!! While I'm buying great value brands and watching every penny to feed my family of 5 the person in front of me is paying with the "SNAP" card loaded with name brand. Thanks NY for another smack in the face!

judeye

If wages were higher perhaps families would not be in need of such programs like this.

Note..this program is for FOOD. Nothing else. Do you really think with an allotment, say $280 for a family of four, that they are buying steaks and lobster? Many are seniors who live just on social security, which can be very little money.

If my taxes help feed a family I have NO problem. Very sad that anyone thinks of their tax dollars as more important than feeding a child or a senior.

judeye

My parents told me stories of growing up during the Great Depression. Their parents gave out food freely from their own homes. My mother who grew up in Pittsburgh (in a VERY Republican home might I add)..told me the 'hobos' put a mark on the sidewalk in front of their home to indicate that they could always get food and sometimes work for pay at that house.

Point...they did not bash those in need. The HELPED them. Oh how things have changed...morals and values..and the idea that we should no longer help each other when in need. How sad is that?

wiseup

What SNAP is not public assistance? You can change the name but it's still public assistance from OUR tax dollars. The Gov does not have a big bank account where it has money for these programs. We work harder to keep people dependent on the government than to help then find work. It is WELFARE and once people get on they don't get off!!

MikeDavis

Nice, they put some new colored lipstick on a pig. Judeye, there are people that sell their food stamps for ten cents on the dollar. Is that fair to taxpayers? And Pelosi wants to change the rules so people can buy whatever they want with them. Isn't that a great plan? Let's make sure to supply the nicotine and alcohol to the "poor". Is that fair to a working person? The program needs an audit. No I don't want anyone going to bed hungry, but I also don't like the idea of paying for someone to get drunk and have the cigarettes (that add to the health care cost of this individual) paid for by the taxpayers. What kind of idiot would propose that? Oh, we are talking about Pelosi never mind....

MikeDavis

Judeye, I've said it before but I'll repeat it again. A hand up? Always. A hand out? Never. Just like a child sooner or later you had better let them learn life's lesson's or they will forever be saying give me more....

MikeDavis

And apparently Judeye you think the answer is raise the wages. Let me ask you something, what do you think would be the price of bread if the minimum wage was twenty dollars an hour? Buying power would not increase, only the prices would to match the wage.

Marcia

Those of you against these program are also against raising the minimum wage. And the owners of Walmart are some of the richest people in the world. Mike, people may have sold food stamps years ago, but you can't do that with a debit card. And IrSmrt, you are the most callous person I have ever heard, a rival of Steiner. Have you never fallen on difficult times. Do you really want people living under bridges? You should be ashamed.

Marcia

By the way, I do agree there should be some restrictions on how the money is spent. Obviously no alcohol or tobacco, but also no chips, pop, etc. too. MikeDavis, can you prove that Pelosi wants to allow anything to be bought with food stamps, because I think you made that up.

rosebud

I see that most of you agree with me. Raising the Min. Wage will raise prices, & then I will have to pay more for everything. How is that fair to me ??? I was told to save for my old age. So I worked a PT job for 30 years & lived on as little as I could so I would be able to retire & live on little then also. How stupid was I?? I see people getting all sorts of things that I do without so I can pay for them to sit on their a ss es & do nothing. I sure was stupid !! Should have taken my kids & went directly to the welfare office instead of going to work. The moral is, do not try to take care of yourself & your children because you won't qualify for the free "Stuff" & must continue to "Give" to all those that do.Carlaw is so right. The largest number of Voters are also on welfare. Keeps the programs going..

PhilJulian

As a young man working in a grocery store in the late 50's I remember the store owner putting a sign in the window saying "WE DO NOT ACCEPT FOOD STAMPS". Does that mean he lacked compassion for the poor? Absolutely not! Those who needed the help were simply asked to accept an IOU for the goods and they eventually paid up. Where is the pride that we used to have in America? Where is the shame that we used to feel for being a burden on society? Where is the leadership and why do we keep putting these liberal jerks into office? Our system rewards unemployment and poverty and that's why we have so much of it.

Escapee

"Every $5 spent in benefits actually doubles to nearly $10 in local economic growth," she said. "So, definitely, it's helping the community as well." We hear this kind of logic all the time, who really believes it? Those that believe it is true, should be offering TAXPAYERS $1000/month in benefits, because the returns are greater than the costs. And if everyone had them, there would be no stigma associated with using them. The truth is, it’s about getting as many people as possible dependent upon the government so that those in government feel powerful and appreciated, while a few hardworking individuals struggle through life trying to pay for it all!

kcw007

On the subject of shame, I wonder what would happen if the names of able bodied persons were published every month after they'd received Food Stamp assistance for some period of time, say six months? At one time in this country a common standard was; "We don't take charity", but these days it's more like, "Im entitled". To that end, I really don't think that publishing publishing names would make much differance in the program participation levels.

judeye

kcw007..I would LOVE it. I think it would be a shock to most who think all these people are living high on welfare.

make NO mistake..there are scammers. Most of us who have worked in the system know this better than most. Yet I still insist they are the Minority not the majority. Most..especially on food stamps...ARE WORKING..and many FULL TIME. They just do not make enough to support their families. Which is something we should address...how to move them from a job...to a job that is family sustaining.

Those that do buy those fast foods do not have the time to bake and cook. they pick the easiest, quickest meals to give their kids. No I do not agree..but as a former single parent..I sure understand.

commentor

Marcia....you say you can't sell food stamps with a card.....WRONG. They go to the store with the person the freeloader uses his/her card to pay for the purchase and the purchaser gives the freeloader the cash. HELLO!!!! Selling food stamps.